Image sensor with a gated storage node linked to transfer gate

ABSTRACT

A CMOS imaging system with increased charge storage of pixels yet decreased physical size, kTC noise and active area. A storage node is connected to the transfer gate and provides a storage node for a pixel, allowing for kTC noise reduction prior to readout. The pixel may be operated with the shutter gate on during the integration period to increase the amount of time for charge storage by a pixel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/232,994, filed on Sep. 26, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,081,249, which isa divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/721,191, filed onNov. 26, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,443,437), the subject matter of eachof which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to improving the charge storage capacityof an imager pixel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An imager, for example, a CMOS imager includes a focal plane array ofpixel cells; each cell includes a photosensor, for example, a photogate,photoconductor or a photodiode overlying a substrate for producing aphoto-generated charge in a doped region of the substrate. A readoutcircuit is provided for each pixel cell and includes at least a sourcefollower transistor and a row select transistor for coupling the sourcefollower transistor to a column output line. The pixel cell alsotypically has a floating diffusion node, connected to the gate of thesource follower transistor. Charge generated by the photosensor is sentto the floating diffusion node. The pixel cell may also include atransistor for transferring charge from the photosensor to the floatingdiffusion node. The pixel cell also typically includes a transistor toreset the floating diffusion node.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a CMOS imager device 908 having apixel array 200 with each pixel cell being constructed as describedabove. Pixel array 200 comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in apredetermined number of columns and rows. The pixels of each row inarray 200 are all turned on at the same time by a row select line, andthe pixels of each column are selectively output by respective columnselect lines. A plurality of row and column lines are provided for theentire array 200. The row lines are selectively activated in sequence bythe row driver 210 in response to row address decoder 220 and the columnselect lines are selectively activated in sequence for each rowactivated by the column driver 260 in response to column address decoder270. Thus, a row and column address is provided for each pixel. The CMOSimager 908 is operated by the control circuit 250, which controlsaddress decoders 220, 270 for selecting the appropriate row and columnlines for pixel readout, and row and column driver circuitry 210, 260,which apply driving voltage to the drive transistors of the selected rowand column lines. The pixel output signals typically include a pixelreset signal, V_(rst) taken off the floating diffusion node when it isreset and a pixel image signal, V_(sig), which is taken off the floatingdiffusion node after charges generated by an image are transferred toit. The V_(rst) and V_(sig) signals are read by a sample and holdcircuit 265 and are subtracted by a differential amplifier 267 thatproduces a signal V_(rst)-V_(sig) for each pixel, which represents theamount of light impinging on the pixels. This difference signal isdigitized by an analog to digital converter 275. The digitized pixelsignals are then fed to an image processor 280 to form a digital image.The digitizing and image processing can be performed on or off the chipcontaining the pixel array.

Imager pixels, including CMOS imager pixels typically have low signal tonoise ratios and narrow dynamic range because of their inability tofully collect, transfer and store the electric charge collected by thephotosensitive area of the photosensor. In addition, the pixels aresubject to kTC noise, which is a thermal dependent noise generatedduring the reset of the pixel. The kTC noise refers to the randomvariation of voltage during the reset of a diffusion area or a storagecapacitor.

Since the size of the pixel electrical signal is very small, due to thecollection of photons in the photo array, the signal to noise ratio anddynamic range of the pixel should be as high as possible. In addition,the use of additional gates to increase the functional operations of thepixel (i.e., electronic shuttering) increases the size of the pixel orreduces the fill factor of the pixel. There is needed, therefore, animproved pixel cell for use in an imager having decreased noise andsize, and a larger charge storage capacity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides increased storage capacity for a pixelcell of an imager. In a first exemplary embodiment, each pixel cell hasa global electronic shutter that transfers the image electrons from aphotosensor to a gated storage node before the electrons are furthertransferred to a floating diffusion node of the pixel cell.

The storage node in the first exemplary embodiment is formed by anadditional depletion area between the photosensor and floating diffusionnode. This area is separated from the photodiode and floating diffusionnode by gates: (1) a storage gate that covers both a barrier (fromopposingly doped silicon) and the storage node and (2) a transfer gatethat separates the storage node from the floating diffusion node. Thecharge is stored beneath the storage gate in the depleted area. Byincluding an additional storage node in the pixel, the floatingdiffusion node can be reset and readout prior to charge transference tothe floating diffusion node, which allows for double sampling and areduction of kTC noise. The amount of charge the pixel can store alsoincreases since the gated storage node has a greater charge storagecapacity than the floating diffusion node.

In a second embodiment, two pixels having respective gated storage nodesshare a floating diffusion node and reset and readout circuitry. Inaddition to having an increased storage capacity, the charge generatingarea of the pixels is increased because the area normally devoted to asecond floating diffusion node, and reset and readout circuitry is nowshared by the two pixels. Since two pixels share a floating diffusionnode and reset and readout circuitry, a shutter clock for the firstpixel is clocked onto the floating diffusion node to correctly readoutand output an image. Once the readout and output of the first pixeloccurs, the floating diffusion node is reset and the shutter clock forthe second pixel is clocked onto the same floating diffusion node foroutput in the same fashion as the first pixel.

In a third embodiment, four pixels using the gated storage nodedescribed above share a floating diffusion node and reset and readoutcircuitry. This further increases the charge generating area of thepixels by using the area formerly designated for use by three floatingdiffusion nodes and associated reset and readout circuits to increasethe charge generating area of each pixel. Since four pixels share afloating diffusion node, and reset and readout circuitry, the two pixelssharing a column or row are output during the same clock cycle. Thisoccurs by clocking the first pixel onto the floating diffusion node andresetting the floating diffusion node on a first half clock cycle. Thesecond pixel is subsequently clocked onto the floating diffusion nodeduring a second half clock cycle for readout and output. This operationis repeated for output of the third and fourth pixel, each of which isoutput on a half cycle of the second clock cycle.

In addition, a procedure that may be utilized to further increase theperformance of the CMOS imager embodiments is operating the CMOS pixelwith the shutter gate of the imager in an open position during a chargeintegration period. Having the gate open during the integration periodallows additional time for a charge to be collected and transferred tothe gated storage node. As a result, the size of the shutter gates canbe reduced and the pixel has a larger charge storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the detailed description of exemplaryembodiments provided below with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional CMOS imager;

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an exemplary five transistorpixel according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of an exemplary circuit in whichtwo pixels share a floating diffusion node and reset and readoutcircuitry according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of an exemplary circuit in whichfour pixels share a floating diffusion node and reset and readoutcircuitry according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of charge storage integration according to afirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of charge readout according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of charge readout according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of charge readout according to a thirdembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top down diagram of an exemplary pixel circuit according toa first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a top down diagram of an exemplary pixel circuit according toa second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a top down diagram of an exemplary pixel circuit according toa third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a processing system which employs a CMOS imagerhaving a pixel array in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which are a part of the specification, and inwhich is shown by way of illustration various embodiments whereby theinvention may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use theinvention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical changes, as wellas changes in the materials used, may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, certainprocessing steps are described and a particular order of processingsteps is disclosed; however, the sequence of steps is not limited tothat set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, withthe exception of steps or acts necessarily occurring in a certain order.

The terms “wafer” and “substrate” are to be understood asinterchangeable and as including silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) orsilicon-on-sapphire (SOS), doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxiallayers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, andother semiconductor structures. Furthermore, when reference is made to a“wafer” or “substrate” in the following description, previous processsteps may have been utilized to form regions, junctions or materiallayers in or on the base semiconductor structure or foundation. Inaddition, the semiconductor need not be silicon-based, but could bebased on silicon-germanium, germanium, gallium arsenide, or other knownsemiconductor materials.

The term “pixel” refers to a photo-element unit cell containing a photoconversion device or photosensor and transistors for processing anelectrical signal from electromagnetic radiation sensed by the photoconversion device. The pixels discussed herein are illustrated anddescribed as inventive modifications to five transistor (5T) pixelcircuits for the sake of example only. Although the invention isdescribed herein with reference to the architecture and fabrication ofone pixel, it should be understood that this is representative of aplurality of pixels in an array of an imager device. In addition,although the invention is described below with reference to a CMOSimager, the invention has applicability to any solid state imagingdevice having pixels. The following detailed description is, therefore,not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the presentinvention is defined only by the appended claims.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary circuit 300 for a pixel of a CMOS imageraccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. The pixelincludes a photosensor, e.g. a photodiode 302, shutter gate transistor304, storage node 306, barrier region 308, transfer gate transistor 310,floating diffusion node 322, and a reset and readout circuit 315including reset transistor 314, source follower transistor 320 and rowselect transistor 318.

FIG. 9 is a top down illustration of circuit 300. The circuit 300includes the photodiode 302, barrier region 308, storage node 306,shutter gate line 305, floating diffusion node 322 and reset and readoutcircuit 315 described above with reference to FIG. 2. Shutter gatetransistor 304 (not shown) is connected to storage node 306 via theglobal shutter line 305. The shutter gate 304 is also connected to thephotodiode 302 (as shown in FIG. 2). Storage node 306 is connected totransfer gate transistor 310, which is coupled to the readout circuit315 via floating diffusion node 322. Barrier layer 308 is, for example,a boron layer that is implanted between photodiode 302 and storage node306 to control charge transference from photodiode 302 to storage node306. Tying barrier region 308 to shutter gate transistor 304 decreasesbarrier region 308 and allows charge transfer from photodiode 302 tostorage node 306 when shutter transistor 304 is driven high.

The pixel 300 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9 is formed on a semiconductorsubstrate and utilizes intermediate storage node 306 formed within thesubstrate for storing charge from photodiode 302. As photodiode 302generates signal charge in response to incident light, the charge istransferred via the shutter gate transistor 304 to storage node 306.

The timing of charge storage in storage node 306 occurs by firstresetting storage node 306, resetting photodiode 302, and resettingstorage node 306 a second time, which is illustrated in FIG. 5.Alternatively, the pixel could be processed to have a potential underthe shutter gate transistor 304 lower than a potential under thetransfer gate transistor 310 when both gates are on, such that storagenode 306 could be reset by holding the transfer gate transistor 310 high(as depicted by the dotted line) and cycling the shutter gate transistor304. In either case, the gate of reset transistor 314 should be highduring reset of storage node 306 to ensure that the floating diffusionnode 322 is maintained at a high potential.

Subsequent to the second reset of storage node 306, charge received fromphotodiode 302 is transferred to storage node 306 during a chargeintegration period; however, charge received from photodiode 302 couldalso be transferred to storage node 306 after the charge integrationperiod. The storage node 306 permits a greater amount of charge to bestored than would be stored solely using the floating diffusion node322. Consequently, the capacitive storage of the pixel is increased.

In addition, because the charge transferred from photodiode 302 isinitially stored in a storage node 306, the floating diffusion node 322can be reset during the same frame the image is being captured. Thispermits a correlated double sampling operation that results in reducedkTC noise and a sharper image. The charge residing at storage node 306is subsequently transferred to the floating diffusion node 322 by thetransfer gate 310, where the charge is applied to the gate of sourcefollower transistor 320 for readout through row select transistor 318.

FIG. 6 illustrates an output timing diagram for circuit 300 (FIG. 2)during pixel readout. The row select transistor 318 is turned on and thereset transistor 314 is briefly turned on, thereby resetting floatingdiffusion node 322 to a predetermined voltage. The charge on thefloating diffusion node 322 is applied to the gate of source followertransistor 320, which is translated to a voltage and subsequentlysampled by sample and hold circuitry, where SHR illustrates the timewhen the reset voltage is stored on the sample and hold capacitor.

Charge stored in storage node 306 is then transferred to floatingdiffusion node 322 by turning on transfer gate transistor 310. Thecharge on the floating diffusion node 322 is applied to the gate ofsource follower transistor 320, which is translated to a voltage andsubsequently sampled by sample and hold circuitry for readout, where SHSillustrates the time when the signal voltage is stored on the sample andhold capacitor.

The FIG. 2 circuit 300 operates using a global electronic shutter, forexample, shutter gate 304, which allows an input signal, i.e., incidentlight, to be applied simultaneously across an imager array so each rowof pixels in the array acquires the charge from respective photodiodesat the same time. When acquiring an image, the integration cycle foreach row is the same. Once the image has been acquired, the charge fromeach pixel is transferred to a storage node for readout. The readoutoccurs row-by-row; however, the input for each row's image is capturedsimultaneously. Thus, the actual time in which signal acquisition beginsand ends is different from row to row. Consequently, each row in thearray is integrated separately, but the time that each row acquires asignal is the same.

The FIG. 2 circuit 300 employs one floating diffusion node 322 perpixel. FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the inventionin which two pixels share a floating diffusion node 430 and reset andreadout circuitry 432. Circuitry 432 includes a reset transistor 434,source follower transistor 436 and row select transistor 438. Theillustrated circuit 400 includes two pixels, each including respectivephotodiodes 401, 402, shutter gate transistors 404, 416, storage nodes410, 426, barrier regions 412, 422, and transfer gate transistors 414,428. A single output line out is provided for the two pixels.

FIG. 10 is a top down illustration of circuit 400. The circuit 400includes the photodiodes 401, 402, barrier regions 412, 422, storagenodes 410, 426, shutter gate line 405, floating diffusion node 430 andreset and readout circuit 432 described above with reference to FIG. 3.Shutter gate transistor 404 (not shown) is connected to storage node 410via shutter line 405. The shutter gate 404 is also connected to thephotodiode 401 (as shown in FIG. 3). Storage node 410 is connected totransfer gate transistor 414 during charge transference to the circuit432 for a first charge readout. Shutter gate transistor 416 (not shownin FIG. 10) is connected to storage node 426 via shutter line 405. Theshutter gate 416 is also connected to the photodiode 402 (as shown inFIG. 3). Storage node 426 is connected to transfer gate transistor 428and, during charge transference, and readout to the same floatingdiffusion node 430 and reset and readout circuit 432 used by the firstpixel.

Because multiple pixels are being readout by the same circuit 432 todisplay an image, pixel timing is set to allow readout of each pixelbased on its predetermined position in the imager array. When the twopixels sharing circuit 432 reside in the same row or column, twotransfer gates 414, 428 are utilized to clock the respective pixelsignals on to the floating diffusion node 430 at the required timing.For example, the transfer gate 414 of the first pixel is turned on,transferring the charge residing in the storage node 410 to the floatingdiffusion node 430. This charge is then readout by turning the rowselect transistor 438 on. Once the row select transistor 438 and sourcefollower transistor 436 outputs the charge, the floating diffusion node430 is reset by turning the reset transistor 434 on. Once the floatingdiffusion node 430 is reset, the charge from the second pixel can bereadout using the same technique. As a result, the row select transistor438 would be on for both transfers in order to readout both pixelswithin in a cycle.

FIG. 7 illustrates the output timing of circuit 400 (FIG. 3) duringpixel readout. The row select transistor 438 is pulsed on. Resettransistor 434 is briefly turned on, thereby resetting floatingdiffusion node 430 to a predetermined voltage. The charge on thefloating diffusion node 430 is applied to the gate of source followertransistor 436, which is translated to a voltage and subsequentlysampled by sample and hold circuitry, where SHR illustrates the timewhen the reset voltage is stored on the sample and hold capacitor.

Charge stored in storage node 410 is then transferred to floatingdiffusion node 430 by turning transfer gate transistor 414 on. Thecharge on the floating diffusion node 430 is applied to the gate ofsource follower transistor 436, which is translated to a voltage andsubsequently sampled by sample and hold circuitry, where SHS illustratesthe time when the signal voltage is stored on the sample and holdcapacitor. Photodiode 401 is subsequently reset.

The readout technique is then repeated to readout a charge accumulatedby the second pixel, and results in charge transference from storagenode 426 through transfer gate transistor 428 and onto the same floatingdiffusion node 430 for readout. Readout from each respective pixelsignal occurs in a single output cycle. Consequently, the readout ofpixel circuit 400 uses two clock cycles.

The circuit 400 has the same benefits as circuit 300, and additionallyallows for the use of a photodiode with increased charge generation areasince two photodiodes 401, 402 share a floating diffusion node 430 andadditional circuitry is not required to couple the signals from nodes410, 426 to the common floating diffusion node 430.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pixel circuit 500 of a CMOS imager according to athird exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, fourpixels share a floating diffusion node 590, and a reset and readoutcircuit 585. The four pixels comprise respective photodiodes 501, 520,540, 560, shutter gate transistors 502, 522, 542, 562, storage nodes506, 526, 546, 566, barrier regions 508, 528, 548, 568, and transfergate transistors 510, 530, 550, 570. Reset and readout circuit 585includes reset transistor 588, source follower transistor 584 and rowselect transistor 582.

FIG. 11 is a top down illustration of circuit 500. The circuit 500includes photodiodes 501, 520, 540, 560, barrier regions 508, 528, 548,568, storage nodes 506, 526, 546, 566, shutter line 504, floatingdiffusion node 590 and reset and readout circuit 585 described abovewith reference to FIG. 4. Shutter gate transistor 502 (not shown) isconnected to storage node 506 via shutter line 504. The shutter gatetransistor 502 is also connected to the photodiode 501 (as shown in FIG.4). Storage node 506 is connected to transfer gate transistor 510 and,during charge transference, to readout circuit 585 via floatingdiffusion node 590 for a first charge readout. Shutter gate transistor522 (not shown) is connected to storage node 526 via shutter line 504.The shutter gate transistor 522 is also connected to the photodiode 520(as shown in FIG. 4). Storage node 526 is connected to transfer gatetransistor 530 and, during charge transference, to the readout circuit585 via floating diffusion node 590 during a second charge readout.

Shutter gate transistor 542 (not shown) is connected to storage node 546via shutter line 504. The shutter gate transistor 542 is also connectedto the photodiode 540 (as shown in FIG. 4). Storage node 546 isconnected to transfer gate transistor 550 and, during chargetransference, to the readout circuit 585 via floating diffusion node 590during a third charge readout. Shutter gate transistor 562 (not shown)is connected to storage node 566 via shutter line 504. The shutter gatetransistor 562 is also connected to the photodiode 560 (as shown in FIG.4). Storage node 566 is connected to transfer gate transistor 570 and,during charge transference, to the readout circuit 585 via floatingdiffusion node 590 during a fourth charge readout.

Because four pixels are being readout by the same circuit 585, thereadout process is similar to the readout of the second embodiment (FIG.3) but altered to output twice the number of pixel signals. When thecircuit 585 reads out an image using pixels that reside in the same rowor column, the two of the four transfer gates (510 and 550 or 530 and570) associated with the corresponding photosensor (501 and 540 or 520and 560) are utilized to clock a pixel signal onto the floatingdiffusion node 590 at the required timing.

FIG. 8 illustrates the output timing of circuit 500 (FIG. 4) duringpixel readout. The row select transistor 582 is pulsed on by a rowselect signal. Reset transistor 588 is briefly turned on, therebyresetting floating diffusion node 590 to a predetermined voltage. Thecharge on the floating diffusion node 590 is applied to the gate ofsource follower transistor 584, which is translated to a voltage andsubsequently sampled by sample and hold circuitry, where SHR illustratesthe time when the reset voltage is stored on the sample and holdcapacitor.

Charge stored in storage node 526 is then transferred to floatingdiffusion node 590 by turning transfer gate transistor 530 on. Thecharge on the floating diffusion node 590 is applied to the gate ofsource follower transistor 584, which is translated to a voltage andsubsequently sampled by sample and hold circuitry, where SHS illustratesthe time when the signal voltage is stored on the sample and holdcapacitor, and readout (V_(rst)-V_(sig)). Photodiode 520 is subsequentlyreset.

The readout technique is then repeated to readout each signal from theremaining pixels of circuit 500. Charge accumulated by storage node 506from photodiode 501 in response to its respective pixel signal istransferred from storage node 506 through transfer gate transistor 510and onto floating diffusion node 590. Charge accumulated by storage node546 from photodiode 540 in response to its respective pixel signal istransferred from storage node 546 through transfer gate transistor 550and onto floating diffusion node 590. Charge accumulated by storage node566 from photodiode 560 in response to its respective pixel signal istransferred from storage node 566 through transfer gate transistor 570and onto floating diffusion node 590.

The readout timing of circuit 500 uses two clock cycles; however, sincefour pixels are being output in the two clock cycles, the readout ofeach pixel signal occurs on a half clock cycle allowing the readout oftwo pixels per output clock cycle. The row select transistor 582 is onfor all four transfers.

The circuit 500 illustrated in FIG. 4 operates similarly to circuit 400illustrated in FIG. 3; however, four adjacent photodiodes 501, 520, 540,560 share the floating diffusion node 590 and reset and readout circuit585. With four pixels sharing circuitry in the circuit 500, thephotodiode areas can be further increased due to the reduction in thenumber of floating diffusion nodes, and reset transistors and readoutcircuits.

Charge storage capacity of each of the exemplary embodiments depicted inFIGS. 2-11 can be further increased by leaving the shutter gate onduring the photodiode integration period. By allowing the shutter gateto remain on during integration, there is additional time for thephotodiode to transfer the charge to the storage node. Consequently, thephysical size of the shutter gate can be decreased. The pixels of thethree exemplary embodiments (FIGS. 2-11) may be used to form a pixelarray 200 for use in an imaging device 908 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 12 shows a processor system 900, which includes an imaging device908 employing pixels constructed in accordance with any of the exemplaryembodiments (FIGS. 2-11) of the invention. The imager device 908 mayreceive control or other data from system 900. System 900 includes aprocessor 902 having a central processing unit (CPU) that communicateswith various devices over a bus 904. Some of the devices connected tothe bus 904 provide communication into and out of the system 900; aninput/output (I/O) device 906 and imager device 908 are suchcommunication devices. Other devices connected to the bus 904 providememory, illustratively including a random access memory (RAM) 910, harddrive 912, and one or more peripheral memory devices such as a floppydisk drive 914 and compact disk (CD) drive 916. The imager device 908may be constructed as shown in FIG. 1 with the pixel array 200 havingthe characteristics of the invention as described above in connectionwith FIGS. 2-11. The imager device 908 may, in turn, be coupled toprocessor 902 for image processing, or other image handling operations.Examples of processor based systems, which may employ the imager device908, include, without limitation, computer systems, camera systems,scanners, machine vision systems, vehicle navigation systems, videotelephones, surveillance systems, auto focus systems, star trackersystems, motion detection systems, image stabilization systems, andothers.

The devices described above illustrate typical devices of many thatcould be used. The above description and drawings illustrateembodiments, which achieve the objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention. However, it is not intended that the presentinvention be strictly limited to the above-described and illustratedembodiments. Any modifications, though presently unforeseeable, of thepresent invention that come within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims should be considered part of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:
 1. A method of operating a pixel circuit of animage sensor comprising: accumulating a charge in a photosensor;transferring the charge from the photosensor to a storage node formed bya depletion region that is at least partially within a substrate onwhich the pixel circuit is formed, wherein the transferring of thecharge from the photosensor to the storage node is controlled by ashutter transistor; controlling a barrier region with the shuttertransistor, the barrier region being coupled to the shutter transistorand located within the substrate between the photosensor and the storagenode and being opposingly doped than the storage node; transferring thecharge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node; and readingout the charge from the floating diffusion node as an output signal ofthe pixel circuit.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the barrier regionis comprised of boron.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thetransferring of the charge from the storage node to the floatingdiffusion node is controlled by a transfer gate.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the step of reading out the charge from the floatingdiffusion region further comprises outputting a signal produced by asource follower transistor, wherein the source follower transistorreceives the charge from the floating diffusion region.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the depletion region forming the storage node iscompletely within the substrate on which the pixel circuit is formed. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the transistor is an electronic shutterfor the pixel circuit.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transistorremains on during an integration period.
 8. A method of operating aplurality of pixels of an image sensor comprising: accumulating a firstcharge in a first photosensor; transferring the first charge from thefirst photosensor to a first storage node, wherein the first storagenode is formed by a first depletion region that is at least partiallywithin a substrate on which the plurality of pixels is formed andseparated from the first photosensor by a first barrier region locatedwithin the substrate between the first photosensor and the first storagenode; transferring the first charge from the first storage node to afloating diffusion node; reading out the first charge from the floatingdiffusion node as an output signal of the first pixel; accumulating asecond charge in a second photosensor; transferring the second chargefrom the second photosensor to a second storage node, wherein the secondstorage node is formed by a second depletion region that is at leastpartially within the substrate and separated from the second photosensorby a second barrier region located within the substrate between thesecond photosensor and the second storage node; transferring the secondcharge from the second storage node to the floating diffusion node; andreading out the second charge from the floating diffusion node as anoutput signal of the second pixel.
 9. The method of claim 8 furthercomprising: resetting the floating diffusion node; accumulating a thirdcharge in a third photosensor; transferring the third charge from thethird photosensor to a third storage node, wherein the third storagenode is formed by a third depletion region that is at least partiallywithin the substrate and separated from the third photosensor by a thirdbarrier region located within the substrate between the thirdphotosensor and the third storage node; transferring the third chargefrom the third storage node to the floating diffusion node; reading outthe third charge from the floating diffusion node as an output signal ofthe third pixel; accumulating a fourth charge in a fourth photosensor;transferring the fourth charge from the fourth photosensor to a fourthstorage node, wherein the fourth storage node is formed by a fourthdepletion region that is at least partially within the substrate andseparated from the fourth photosensor by a fourth barrier region locatedwithin the substrate between the fourth photosensor and the fourthstorage node; transferring the fourth charge from the fourth storagenode to the floating diffusion node; and reading out the fourth chargefrom the floating diffusion node as an output signal of the fourthpixel.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein a readout circuit outputs thefirst and second charges by: turning on a first transfer gate of thefirst pixel to transfer the first charge to the floating diffusion node,providing an output signal based on charge at the floating diffusionnode with an output transistor and turning on a row select transistor tooutput a signal provided by the output transistor; and turning on asecond transfer gate of the second pixel after the readout of the firstpixel to transfer the second charge to the floating diffusion nodeproviding an output signal based on charge at the floating diffusionnode with an output transistor, and turning on the row selecttransistor.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and seconddepletion regions are completely within the substrate.
 12. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the third and fourth depletion regions are completelywithin the substrate.
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprisingcontrolling the first barrier region with a first shutter transistor,wherein controlling the first barrier region controls the transferringof the first charge from the first photosensor to the first storagenode, and further comprising controlling the second barrier region witha second shutter transistor, wherein controlling the second barrierregion controls the transferring of the second charge from the secondphotosensor to the second storage node.
 14. The method of claim 9,further comprising controlling the third barrier region with a thirdshutter transistor, wherein controlling the third barrier regioncontrols the transferring of the third charge from the third photosensorto the third storage node, and further comprising controlling the fourthbarrier region with a fourth shutter transistor, wherein controlling thefourth barrier region controls the transferring of the fourth chargefrom the fourth photosensor to the fourth storage node.
 15. A method ofoperating a plurality of pixels of an image sensor comprising:accumulating a first charge in a first photosensor; transferring thefirst charge from the first photosensor to a first storage node formedby a first depletion region that is at least partially within asubstrate on which the plurality of pixels is formed: transferring thefirst charge from the first storage node to a floating diffusion node;reading out the first charge from the floating diffusion node as anoutput signal of the first pixel; accumulating a second charge in asecond photosensor; transferring the second charge from the secondphotosensor to a second storage node formed by a second depletion regionthat is at least partially within the substrate; transferring the secondcharge from the second storage node to the floating diffusion node; andreading out the second charge from the floating diffusion node as anoutput signal of the second pixel, wherein the transferring steps occuron half clock cycles.